"Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself." - Morihei Ueshiba When I contemplate breathing and eating and intimacy it's a conversation between beings, a communion of self with the external world, bringing parts of our environment and nourishment and lover into ourselves and a part of us being released back out into the atmosphere as we exhale, eliminate, separate from other and reconnect with Self. Reuniting. … [Read more...]
The Great Mystery – Getting To Know Your Pelvic Floor
So many women (and men, hey, guys – welcome) I've worked with over the past decade have had some form of pelvic floor challenge. Yet many of them couldn't – or wouldn't – name it and make it known. A different issue brings them to their first private session, and over time we unravel the story and clues in their body – and often end up right back at the center, the core. We end up discovering that the pelvic floor may be a causal piece in their puzzle. I'm happy to share my passion and expertise – and bring much needed lightness and humor to this area of our anatomy, health and lives. My certification and studies in The Franklin Method dramatically increased my own embodiment and performance, and has served me well in helping my clients with similar areas of concern. The pelvic … [Read more...]
The Difference Between Busy and Being
My work is increasingly bringing me into conversations with clients with long histories, stories of loss and grief, loneliness and dissociation, trauma, and now as adults - they deal with the ongoing complexity of things like pain, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and more. And I love working with these people one on one, because the commitment and honesty I see from them is inspiring. To reconnect after years of neglect or pain, into the body, coming home to Self - It is often a rocky path that I'm glad to support. We celebrate a joyous homecoming. A new way of being with Self - which inevitably means a new way of being out in the world, and in relationship. Enter: Interoception, Embodiment and Body Intelligence Our bodies and brains are wildly intelligent - And we are wild … [Read more...]
Mantra for Self Blessing: Ayur Mantra with Donna Farhi
My beloved primary teacher, Donna Farhi, has shared a gift of this chant for us to all enjoy. Chanting mantra has grown into my life this past year, and continues to help me ground and refocus, and step into more compassionate perception for myself and others. Try it and tell me what you think or how you feel afterwards. Namaste, friends. Cheri PS: I'm offering a Free Audio Collection available to you now at my membership site. You can create an account for free! Click here to get access when you register and log in. … [Read more...]
3 Yoga Alignment Cues to Reconsider
For Yoga Teachers I recently read an article on Yoganonyomous that made me cringe a little. Although at face value the article was easy to read and the tips are concise, I actually disagree with the author on several points. Please let me clarify that I'm not merely going to share my opinion, but also use biomechanics to back this up. Anatomy requires our attention, and if we are teaching yoga, we're teaching movement. Which means a shift from right-wrong duality of how to cue and thinking into deeper discernment. Have you heard these cues before? 1) "Keep your front, bent knee at 90 degrees" for warrior and other wide standing poses 2) "Shoulders down and back at all times even with arms overhead" 3) "Inhale now - exhale" or breathing prescribed with certain … [Read more...]
Emotions: Feeling, Accepting, Witnessing through Embodied Practice
Emotions are energy. Feeling emotions means having an experience in the body. Being embodied allows us a deeper experience with our emotional and spiritual self. For better or worse, it does. And this morning, in bed yet at 10:02, I have a hangover. From grief. Each feeling has a certain frequency or feeling to it, and we each express and experience them in our own way. I know without a doubt that if I can breathe and be with the sensation of the emotion - in my body whether sitting quietly, observing it, knowing I'm safe even while it erupts from my chest and throat into a massive cry or moving with it, through it - running, dancing, yogaing - I can identify it more clearly. I can ride the wave of it coming and passing more skillfully. Emotions are temporary visitors … [Read more...]
What’s the First Thing You Teach?
YOGA TEACHERS + Healers of all professions: Where do you begin? What's the first thing you teach to a new student or class? Do you start with how to stand in mountain pose? Basic relaxation lying down? Breathing? What happens before the literal teaching takes place? Is there a certain environment established as people enter and take a place in the room? How do you greet clients and new students? What do you imagine they sense and feel (even subconsciously) before class begins? I believe the first thing we teach is our own current state of being. How we show up or hold space in the room, the maturity that comes from our own self-guided practice, the depth and presence of sound personal embodiment. 'Knowing' that comes from not only our intellect, but is tethered to … [Read more...]
Anatomy for Asana: Tip #3
Top 4 Anatomy-Based Tips for Asana You teach, you're trained - and YET - you have serious questions about cueing / anatomy / alignment. Or you feel like you've been taught cues or imagery that doesn't feel like it works in your body - or your student's bodies. Cues that create pain or excess tension, you find yourself holding your breath trying to make sense of an instruction or wrestling your body into it. Or it just doesn't feel good - solid - sound - Alive and Dynamic. You don't want to teach what you were told - you want to teach from what you can feel, image and understand deeply in your own practice, right? Here is Tip #3: 3) Asymmetry is Necessary I love the pelvis. And my low back. And my hip joints. And I want them to last, thank you, so I can run marathons and … [Read more...]